How your skincare routine needs to change once you turn 35

It’s the beginning of a new era

The smooth, plump and flawless skin of your twenties can start to show signs of wear in your late thirties. Fine lines, loss of volume and pigmentation show up as a result of oxidative damage from sun exposure, lifestyle influences like smoking and drinking, occupational stresses, lack of a skincare routine and hormone changes. “Fine lines and wrinkles can begin to form, especially in areas of facial expression, like between the eyebrows and on the forehead,” says oculoplastic surgeon Dr Maryam Zamani. “A decline in firming collagen production means skin is not as taut as it used to be. The complexion can also appear duller, since the top layers of skin don’t shed as regularly due to a drop in oestrogen levels. And, if you enjoyed sunbathing in your twenties, now is when pigmentation can make its mark,” she adds. Lifestyle stresses can also set off adult acne, which can be more severe than the teenage type, consisting of red, painful deep cysts not just on the face but also your body.

Skincare rules to follow once you turn 35

Upgrade your skincare: Retinol is the single-most effective ingredient for treating lines, wrinkles and dullness. “Use a moisturiser containing a minimum of 1.5 per cent retinol, daily,” says Dr Zamani. “It will increase cell turnover and smooth lines, while brightening and tightening skin.” Slather on a moisturiser-sunscreen hybrid, like Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer with Sunscreen—it contains retinol and an SPF of 30.

See a pro: Book a peel to rejuvenate skin and increase cell turnover and to tackle everything from acne scars to pigmentation and wrinkles. Alternatively, Dr Zamani recommends a dose of ‘baby Botox’ injections to smoothen stationary lines—it can act as a preventative measure to delay new wrinkles.